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Week 7: We predict all five Big Ten games

By BTN.com staff -
2 years ago

Every week, BTN.com’s Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) and Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) offer their predictions for each Big Ten football game. We also provide a poll for all of the games so fans can vote for their winners.

After six weeks, it’s BTN.com fans and Dienhart tied for the top spot, at 44-13, while Brent sits two games back. See our Week 7 predictions and choose your winners in this post.

Iowa (3-2, 1-0) at Michigan State (4-2, 1-1) - noon ET, ESPNTom’s pick: Michigan State, 21-20 – The Spartans will win this slugfest in the fourth quarter and will see their defense score a touchdown—or at least set up a score—that will prove to be the difference.Brent’s pick: Michigan State, 23-17 – Welcome to old-school Big Ten football. Between Le’Veon Bell and Mark Weisman, we’ll be treated to more than our share of carries by large running backs.

Northwestern (5-1, 1-1) at Minnesota (4-1, 0-1) – noon ET, ESPN2Tom’s pick: Northwestern, 31-27 – The Wildcats have enough speed and playmakers on offense to outscore a Golden Gopher attack that is really missing quarterback MarQueis Gray.Brent’s pick: Northwestern, 30-23 – If Northwestern wants to be successful, Kain Colter needs to get more than five carries, which he received last week at Penn State. Expect Colter to get around 10-12 carries, and if he does, he’ll give the Gophers trouble.

Wisconsin (4-2, 1-1) at Purdue (3-2, 1-1) – noon ET, BTN/BTN2GoTom’s pick: Wisconsin, 35-21 – Look, the Badgers will be as subtle as a punch in the nose—they will run, run and run some more until Purdue shows it can stop it. And, the Boilermakers won’t. Even if it does, Purdue lacks the offense to keep pace. Look for a new wrinkle or two—and perhaps a trick play, too?—from the Boilers in this key Leaders Division tilt.Brent’s pick: Purdue, 27-24 – I’m not nearly as high as I was on Purdue after last week’s showing. Thing is, the Boilers need this win in the worst way, and they know it. Lose, and with a trip to Ohio State up next, the prospect of an 0-3 start in Big Ten play becomes a real concern.

Illinois (2-4, 0-2) at Michigan (3-2, 1-0) – 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2Tom’s pick: Michigan, 41-14 – The Wolverines look to be rounding into form. Illinois? It looks flat. Denard Robinson will go for at least 150 yards rushing, and the hot Wolverine defense will smother an Illini offense that’s searching for answers.Brent’s pick: Michigan, 38-17 – Have you heard the Illinois defense boasts four NFL prospects? Yeah, it hasn’t made the slightest difference this year, and it won’t against Denard Robinson and the Wolverines.

Ohio State (6-0, 2-0) at Indiana (2-3, 0-2) – 8 p.m. ET, BTN/BTN2GoTom’s pick: Ohio State, 50-24 – The Buckeyes are on a mission to not just win games—but to do so impressively. They have AP pollsters to impress. As Barry Switzer used to say: “Let’s hang half-a-hundred on ‘em!”Brent’s pick: Ohio State, 45-23 – The Indiana offense gave Michigan State some fits last week and it could do the same to Ohio State. But the fast-paced attack just extends the game and gives Braxton Miller more time and more opportunities to gash the Hoosier defense.

13 Comments

The Big ten has teams that are becoming like Dr. Jekle and Mr. Hyde. Go figure…Purdue looking good one week…bad the next. Northwestern looking good one week…bad the next. Then there is Michigaan…looking crappy till they meet Purdue. The only consistant…Ohio State…if they get much better they will likely run the table.

MeanChuckiB on 10/10/2012 @ 6:00pm EST Said:

Michigans D has been solid. Bama was game one and Airforce was well, Airforce. The offense has to do thier job. UM will be fine.

Doug on 10/10/2012 @ 7:22pm EST Said:

So Michigan D does good against crappy teams and bad against good teams, that means they are solid?

Andrew on 10/11/2012 @ 1:09am EST Said:

Against ND who is undefeated Michs D held to only 13pts, if it wasn’t for a poor offensive showing they would have won that game. Yes against #1 alambama there d looked bad, but that was the first game of the yr an a lot of new faces put in new roles, an with airforce the triple option is tough to stop if u never see it. So if u ask me the D is solid an looking like the team from last yr.

Kelly Rumpel on 10/11/2012 @ 10:12am EST Said:

GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Matt on 10/11/2012 @ 2:01pm EST Said:

Ohio State the only consistent? Maybe they are consistently slow starters, I’ll give you that. Barely beat Cal, struggle against UAB and Central Florida, and beat Michigan State by 1 because of a wrongly blown whistle. Yes, they did look good (offensively) against Nebraska, but other than that, I’m not too impressed. They are similar to Michigan 2011 where they are a pretty good team that benefits from a weak schedule. Their only tough contest comes Nov. 24th, but other than that, not too much on the schedule. MAYBE Penn State and Wisconsin, but osu should win those games too.

Dave on 10/11/2012 @ 2:54pm EST Said:

Michigan’s D plays well vs. ‘crappy’ teams? Notre Dame Top Ten is a crappy team? Purdue was Herbstreits pick to win the B1G last week. Purdue was a world beater. Now they are crappy?

dkdavis on 10/11/2012 @ 3:40pm EST Said:

GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doug on 10/12/2012 @ 9:23am EST Said:

Andrew, you can do if’s all year long, turnovers are part of the game. Wow herbstreit picked Purdue to win the BIG so they must be good ! Wow, that’s your best argument? let’s see, desmond said michigan would win the big ten in rich rod’s second year at michigan, how did that work out? purdue beat no one, they haven’t been good since 2000. you michigan fans sure are desparate. drob still can’t throw a lick, and he still can’t run vs good teams, keep up with the moral victories. all these go blue chants, geez come up with something new, that is old and boring.

K. John on 10/12/2012 @ 2:22pm EST Said:

Illinois is bound to do it to somebody and who better than the most over-rated team in America? Last year, Michigan was the worst 10 win major conference team in college football history. Look for Illinois to get its first Big Ten win of the 2012 season.

Doug on 10/12/2012 @ 6:49pm EST Said:

K.John, most of America is hoping for that, Michigan fans are just silly.